THAT YOUR SOUL MAY LIVE

TEXT

“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.

Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me;
hear me, that your soul may live.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander of the peoples.

Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations that do not know you will hasten to you,
because of the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.”

Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.

Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
which will not be destroyed.”

READ

The water of a river that rises in one land flows through many different territories before it returns to the sea from which it was originally drawn. It passes within the borders of many chiefs and rajahs and princes. Yet no one can stop it within his territories, for it is not his possession. It is the common property of all, and wherever it goes it quenches the thirst of all. So, too, the stream of the water of life comes forth from the infinite ocean of God, and flowing through the divine channels of prophets and apostles irrigates the whole world, quenching the thirst of all and enriching and making fruitful the lives of all peoples and nations. “And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).

—Sadhu Sundar Singh (1889-1929)

Prayers of Intercession

We intercede, Lord God, for those we know who need to receive your invitation. We pray for those who are hungry, thirsty, crying out for more. Let them hear your call and know your fullness.

(Name your requests before God, concluding with:)

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We intercede, Lord God, for all your Church; let your people earnestly offer your invitation to the world. Let there be no shirking from your grace; you invite all, and let us never stand in the way. We pray against the evils of racial and tribal divisions in your church—in Africa, in South and North America, in Asia, Australia and Europe. Reconcile your people one to another; let warring factions cease and all be united in love and friendship.

(Name your requests before God, concluding with:)

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We intercede, Lord God, for all the nations of this world, earnestly needing to hear your invitation. Many are sick, are hungry, are dying; many are torn by war and genocide and oppression. Everywhere there is injustice. Prince of peace, extend your scepter over this world and bring all nations beneath your rule. Bring your righteousness, your holiness, your peace in all corners of this earth.

(Name your requests before God, concluding with:)

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.